JT Performs "Drink You Away" At CMAs

Justin Timberlake Performs "Drink You Away" At CMAs

Memphis native Justin Timberlake has long seemed like he might one day release a country album. After his mid-October induction into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, Timberlake tonight joined newly minted New Artist of the Year Chris Stapleton onstage to duet on a duo of ditties.

Both artists brought flavor to each other’s songs, especially as “Drink You Away” went from a slinky jazz number to a strident country song pretty seamlessly.

Timberlake has tweeted his love for Stapleton in the past, so Stapleton thought he’d ask JT onstage.

"We had these nominations and thought we were gonna get, maybe, a slot to perform," Stapleton told ABC News. "So I called him up and asked him if he'd be interested in doing it and he was like, 'Yeah man, I'm in. Just tell me when to show up.' So here we are, we're gonna do it!"